PS 3507 
.E542 
F6 
1914 
Copy 1 



International Copyrighted (in England, her Colonies, and 
itej States) Edition of the Works of the Best Authors 




'FOOD 



1 9 



A TRAGEDY OF THE FUTURE 
Hn ©ne Bet 



BY 
WILLIAM C. de MILLE 



Copyright, 1914, by A. G. de Mille 



ALL RIGHTS RESERrED 



CAUTION. -Amateurs and Professionals are hereby warned that 
"FOOD," being fully protected under the copyright laws of the 
United States, is subject to royalty, and any one presenting the 
play without the consent of the author or his authorized agent 
will be liable to the penalties by law provided. All applications 
for amateur performances of "FOOD" must be made to SAMUEL 
FRENCH, 28-30 West 38th Street, New York. 



PRICE 25 CENTS 



Xkw York 
SAMUEL FRENCH 

PUBLISHER 

28-30 WEST 3Sth STREET 



j SAMUEL FRENCH, Ltd. 
! 26 Southampton' Strp^kt 
1 STPvAND 



'FOOD'' 



A TRAGEDY OF THE FUTURE 

lln ©tie Bet 



BY 
WILLIAM C. de MILLE 



Copyright, 1914, by A. G. de Mills 



ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 



CAUTION.— Amateurs and Professionals are hereby warned that 
"FOOD," beinj fully protected under the copyright laws of the 
United States, is subject to royalty, and any one presenting the 
play without the consent of the author or his authorized agent 
will be liable to the penalties by law provided. All applications 
for amateur performances o* " FOOD '* must be made to SAMUEL 
FRENCH, 28-30 West 38th Street. New York. 



New York 
SAMUEL FRENCH 

PUBLISHER 

28-30 WEST 38th Street 



London 

SAMUEL FRENCH, Ltd 

26 Southampton Street 

STRAND 






^y 



FOOD.' 



CHARACTERS. 



Basil A Nezv Yorker. 

Irene His Wife. 

Harold An Officer of The Food Trust. 



Scene: — Basil's home in New York City. 
Time : — Fifty years from now. 



2 

APR -7 1914 
§)CID 36631 



'^FOOD/' 



COSTUMES. 
Basil : — Business suit. 

Hat. 

Gloves. 

Overcoat. 

Irene: — Soft, clinging- tea gown. 

Harold : — Military uniform. 

LIGHTS. ^ 

No changes. Full white and amber. 

Scene: — An ordinary room, furnished with rich 
plainness. 

Doors L. I and r. 3. 
Windows at back. 
. Table r. c, with two chairs. : 

Small table, with chair against l. v^rall, above 
door. 

Chair l. of food safe. 
Small rug, c, on curtain line. 
Side board at rear, to r, of windows. 
At back, L., of windows, is a refrigerator, made 
3 



4 " FOOD." 

to look rather like a safe, with heavy iron 

hinges, a large combination lock, etc. 

Fre place and fire, r. i, if possible, but not 

necessary. 

" PROPS." 

1. 2 tables (i small one for telephone) 

2. 4 chairs 

3. Small rug 

4. ^'/c/^ board 

5. Refrigerator (to look like safe) 

6. Telephone 

7. Fireplace and _^r<? (if possible) 

8. Check book 

9. 5/2i^ cnevelope and &/w{? /^a/^^r (for grocer's 

bill) 

10. Fountain pen 

11. 2 /a/?/^? covers (a white one, for centre table, for 

meal) 

12. 2 plates 

13. 2 /or^.y 

14. 2 glasses 

15. I platter 

16. I carving knife and /or^ 

17. Carafe of water 

18. Small /'/w'a/ of wi/^ 

19. Medicine dropper (to be kept in bottle instead 

of cork) 

20. /^ cracker 

21. 2 ^^^^ (one for case, another to keep in the 

jewel-case) 

22. A leather case 

23. Revolver and holster 

24. Small package, to look like slice of bread 

wrapped up 

25. Paper to ^zV/n as Harold's receipt 

26. Jewel-box and jewels 



ii 



FOOD." 



At Rise: — Irene is discovered sitting at table, R. 
c, zcritiiig a check. There is a blue envelop'e 
and paper in front of her. 

She is a young woman, about 25, but very thin. 
Basil enters l. i, wearing hat and coat. He is 
a man of about 30, or 35 ; also very thin. He 
comes and kisses her. 

Basil. Hello, dear! (crossing to her, kisses her, 
crosses to chair l. of food safe, takes off coat, etc.) 

Irene. Why, Basil — you're home early — 
{noticing check) Oh, Pshaw! I've done it again. 
(tears up check) 

Basil. Done what? 

Irene. Written the wrong date. I can't get it 
into my head that this is nineteen sixty-two after 
writing nineteen sixty-one for a whole year, (starts 
to write another check) 

Basil. What's the check for ? 

Irene, (z'ery seriously) The — the grocer's bill, 
Basil 

Basil. (very serious — pausing — crossing to 
front of chair l. of table r. c.) Oh — I — I see — 
(picks up bill — sits — reads it — then cheers up a bit) 
Why, it's not as large as last month. 

Irene. No, it's less than six thousand dollars 

Basil, (scrutinizing items) Yes — five thousand 
5 



6 " FOOD." 

eight hundred and sixty-seven dollars and forty- 
four cents — what^s the forty-four cents? (rather 
stern manner and tQne) 

Irene, {ashamed) Four grains of sugar 

Basil, {lays bill on table — rises — crossing l. — 
in light reproof) We must be careful about sugar, 
dear. 

Irene, {in pained explanation) I've tried to be, 
Basil — {rises — takes pen and check book with her — 
crosses across to him l.) and really — the bill is not 
much — when you consider how food has gone up. 

Basil, {in happier, lighter tone) Anyhow, we 
must live — and I'm as hungry as a wolf — let's have 
dinner now 

Irene. Half an hour early ? 

Basil. I'm awfully hungry 

Irene. {crossing to side board) All right — 
{pointing to food safe) Open the food safe — will 
you, dear — (Irene at side board arranging plates 
together, platter on top, mith forks and car-vers on 
platter — starts over to table — Basil opening door of 
safe, biirglar alarm, {bell) rings — Irene starts) I 
always forget, that burglar alarm! (Basil reaches 
beJiind safe and turns off burglar alarm) 

Irene {setting table) What brings you home so 
early to-day, dear? 

Basil, (crossing from safe to table) I'm on the 
Jury. We just finished a case, {seats himself r. of 
table) A very sad one, too. A man was being 
tried for killing a hen. 

Irene, (shocked, at the word " hen " drops fork 
on plate zvith noise) Oh, the beast! 

Basil. Yes — His only excuse was that his 
family was starving — He was found guilty 

Irene, {pausing setting table — looking at him in 
reproach) And you — helped sentence him — to 
death ? 

Basil. There .was nothing else to do — (Irene 
goes to side board gets carafe and 2 glasses, back 



" FOOD." 7 

to table) Don't you understand — he killed a hen — 
(Irene starts) killed it in cold blood — a man who 
can do that deserves no pity 

Irene, {coming over from side board — filling 
glasses) But his family 

Basil. Oh, you women — -are so sentimental — 
(Irene takes carafe up to side board, leaves it — gets 
platter — starts zvith it tozcard safe) have you for- 
gotten that the hen is the fowl Vx^ho lays eggsf 

Irene, (reels — half fainting) Eggs — Oh! 

Basil. Irene! (springs to feet — goes hurriedly 
lo her, around chair r. of table) What's the matter? 

Irene, (recovering — avoiding help) Nothing — ■ 
nothing, dear — I'm better now — but, wait a minute 
I've a treat for you to-night — (continues to safe — • 
Basil returns to table and seats himself' iri cJiair r., 
expectantly. Irene opens safe, takes out crackers- 
lays it on platter — bears it over to table triumph- 
antly) 

Basil, (rather reproachfully) By Jove, dear — 
but we are living high — Irene returns to food 
safe — is busy there) a cracker 

Irene, (facing him triumphantly) And milk — ■ 
(turns to safe again — gets out very small bottle — ■ 
crossing to table with it) 

Basil, (almost horrified) Milk! Cracker and 
milk — on the same day — (Irene with a medicine 
dropper dropping a drop info each glass, half filled 
with water) Isn't that rather 

Irene, (pausing to explain) But you're making 
a hundred thousand a year ! 

Basil, (gentle reproof) Still there's no use 
squandering it, is there? (happier tone. Irene is 
now seated opposite Jiim, at table, cJiair l.) How- 
ever, I suppose we can treat ourselves once in a 
while — (Basil carves ilie cracker — serves her zvith 
half, then himself — they eat it zvith forks — she only 
tastes hers) and it is delicious, (smacking his lips. 
Reminiscently) Remember — when w^e were first 



8 " FOOD." 

married we couldn^t have these little luxuries — 
{thoughtfully sad) but — you know whenever I sit 
down to a meal like this — I think of the poor — who 

can't buy proper food 

Irene. {aLso thoughtfully sad) Yes- 



Basil. That's why we could show no mercy to 
that man to-day — You see — what made it so ter- 
rible was — that the hen was about to become a 

Irene. {getting faint again) Don't — don't 
Basil — {head sinks on table) 

Basil, {leaning over and grasping hand) Why, 
my dear child — what is the matter? {she doesn't 
answer) You must see the doctor — (Irene rises — 
crosses to bcliind table) I've noticed you haven't 
been yourself for some time. You haven't been 
eating well — why, look there — you've hardly touched 
your dinner 

Irene, {looks slozdy at plate — turns head away — 
gathers up both plates — empties crumbs of cracker 
from both to platter) I'm not hungry — {crossing 
toward safe — pauses — turning to Basil) You 
won't mind having these for breakfast, will you, 
dear? 

Basil. No — (Irene turns to safe — puts platter 
in) but the doctor? 

Irene, {crossing back to table) Basil, I — I've 
seen the doctor — {takes plates from either side — • 
puts them together) I went to-day — {takes forks 
and carvers — puts them on top of plates — crosses to 
side board) 

Basil. What did he say? (Irene crosses to table 
for glasses — pauses at table — about to speak — ■ 
changes her mind) Come — come, dear — why don't 
you tell me? (Irene crosses to side board with 
glasses) 

Irene. I— I — Oh, what's the use, Basil — it— 
{crossing back to table) 

Basil. It's something serious then? 

Irene, {sinking in chair l. of table — facing him) 



" FOOD." 9 

Yes — (Basil exclaims) W-e — we might as well 
face it — Basil — the doctor says — I've got to eat 
another egg 

Basil, {titter dismay) Oh, my God! 

Irene, {weepingly, pleadingly) I can't help it, 
Basil — you — you know it isn't my fault — 

Basil, {rises, leans over table in wild pleading) 
But — oh — won't a trip to Europe do — a change of 
scene? {crossing past her l.) Anything in rea- 
son — but — (Irene sinks back in chair, Basil 
crosses to her) Why — it's only two years ago — 
you had an egg — a whole one — I had to mortgage 
this house to get it for you — surely you can't need 
another so soon 

Irene. I know it's terrible, but — I — {facing 
front — cold — determined) I must have it, Basil — • 

Basil, {crossing to l. in despairing anger) Oh, 
how did you ever get this accursed taste — ah — thank 
Heaven the children all starved to death. They 
might have inherited 

Irene. {springing to feet in protest) Basil! 
(he stops) That's a cruel thing to say. {crossing 
tozvard him at l.) I never told you how I came to 
be — this w^ay — ^ — 

Basil, {facing her in stern question) No — you 
never told m.e — you married me without letting me 
know you had this — this — craving for eggs — Oh, 
how could you? (crossing in sad zvonder to chair 
at L. of table — seats himself, back to her) 

Irene. Basil — (coming tozvard him) ^\1^en I 
was a little girl — my parents were very, very 
wealthy — and once — they gave mc — an egg to 
taste — my brother had brought it from Europe. 
You don't know the effect the taste of an egg has 
on one — the strange feeling of happiness — that 
once felt can never be forgotten. I — I couldn't for- 
get it. The taste of that egg has been the memory 
of my waking hours, my dream, at night — some- 
times the desire for it drives me to the point of 



^ 



10 " FOOD.'^ 

madness — oh — don't look at me like that — I kiiow 
I shouldn't have married you — without telling you 
of it — but — {going dozvn to him — pleading) I 
loved you, Basil 

Basil, (rises — facing her) If you had loved 
me — you would have told me — {tiir^As slozvly — ■ 
measured steps- — crossing from her to chair r. of 
table — zvhere he stands with back to her — saddened) 

Irene. (pleading zvildly) I tried — I tried 
Basil- — honestly — honestly— I tried — but I couldn't 
— and meanwhile— the desire grew 

Basil, (turns to her — over table) Oh — but I 
gave you one — I gave all I had for it 

Irene, (tenderly, in sympathy and appreciation) 
Yes, dear — I know — but it only fed the flame of 
my longing and now I've got to have another — I've 
got to — don't you understand— or I shall go mad — - 
I can't go on like this — I've got a right to live my 
life — to have the food my nature craves — I must — I 
will have it, (she sinks to table — pounds it zvith 
her fists — head buried — sobs) 

Basil, (going to her and putting his arms around 
her) There, there, dear — don't excite yourself — ■ 
come, go to bed — you'll feel better in the morning. 

Irene, (sitting azvay from his embrace — fac- 
ing him) Then you won't — get it — for me 

Basil, (despairingly) Great Heavens — I cant — - 

Irene. (turning from him — looking fixedly 
front — cold — hard — determined) Very well — but 
I warn you, Basil — I will not answer for the con- 
sequences. 

Basil, (angry) Do you think you can threaten 
me? Ah — you could conquer this if you would. 
You have no right to expect me to gratify ?uch 
foolish, extravagant tastes. 

Irene, (cold — fixed, as before) Very well — I've 
nothing more to say 

Basil, (bock of her chair — turns to go — pauses 
back of table) Don't take it like this — Irene— 



"FOOD." II 

Heaven knows Td do it if I could — but it's out of 
the question — Good-night — {coiitiiiiics toward door 
R. sd) 

Irene, {cold and hard) You're going to bed? 

Basil, {standing at door— partly turned to her) 
Yes — I — I have a touch of indigestion — Good-night. 

{He exits r. 30?.) 

(Irene looks after him, desperate — sits a moment 
in thought — then faces front — her mouth zvork- 
ing, as if eating — looks back again to door of 
Jiis exit — then toward 'phone — then to door — 
jHses — goes to 'phone on table l. takes off re- 
receiver — Harold knocks at door.) 

Irene, {telephone receiver off hook, in hand) 
Come in. (Harold enter, stands inside doorway. 
Irene is startled — rises — leaves receiver off hook. 
Harold is a good looking man — in uniform. He has 
a leather case strapped to his left side, a revolver, in 
holster, at his right) Harold — •you.'! {sJie crosses 
backward to table r. c. ) 

Harold, {about to run to her remembers duty of 
both — draws back) Irene! 

Irene. Why do you come to me — again — after 
all these years? 

Harold, {drawing himself erect — importantly) 
You see my uniform — I am an officer of the Food 
Trust 

Irene, {thought of egg — a possible way to get 
one — enters her mind) An officer — the Food Trust ! 

Harold, {cold — repressed emotion — sense of 
duty) Yes — You ordered a slice of bread — 
{she nods) I was sent to deliver it — {he hands her 
a small package— she takes it— puts it in food safe — 
he crosses across to table R. c, stands l., facing 
front. She comes to him, as if to reopen old 
acquaintance — he has taken receipt from cap — turns 



12 '• FOOD/^ 

to her coldly) Please sign the receipt, (she takes 
it — signs — hands it back — their hands touch — both 
are much moved — he controls himself — crosses to- 
ward L. — putting receipt in cap) 

Irene, {leaning to him— pleadingly) Wait — • 
Harold — don't leave me like this — you never under- 
stood 

Harold. (pauses — tiirns to her — stern — 
brokenly) I only know you broke my heart and 
ruined my life — when you married him — not for 
love — but — for — food 

Irene, (turning from him — looking front — • 
brokenly) Yes — and I've been punished — The 
food I crave — he can't give me — (crosses to him. — 
leans tozvard left side of him,) 

Harold, (drawing azvay) Be careful 

Irene, (looking tozvard Husband's exit door — as 
if Harold meant him) What is it? 

Harold, (solemn importance) You mustn't 
touch that. case 

Irene. Why — what does it contain? 

Harold. Hush! (looks carefully tozvard doors 
turns and lays cap on telephone table — crossing to 
her) An egg 

Irene, (zvondcring, incredidous zvhisper — ) An 
egg! An e — ! 

Harold, (rushes to her — catches her in arms — • 
stops her mouth zvith hands) Sh — I — I shouldn't 
have told you — I'm on my way to a Billionaire's 
house to deliver it. (releases Iter zvhile he speaks — • 
crosses tozvard l.) 

Irene, (siren-like — pleading) Harold — Harold — • 

Harold, (remembering his and her duty — proof 
against her zviles — bitterly) No — it's too late ■ 

Irene, (szveetly insiniiatingly) Is it too late, 
Harold? Are you so sure of that — Is there no 
spark left of the old love? 

Harold, (tottering mentally, pauses — looks at her 



" FOOD." 13 

— brokenly) God/help me — yes — (head bowed in 
shame) 

Irene, (temptingly) You said once — that you 
would do anything in the world — if I would be 
yours- 



Harold. Yes — I said that — once 

Irene, (crossing slowly backward to table r. c. — 
as if luring him to her) Then — I give you the 

chance to prove it — now 

Harold, (about to rush to her) You mean — that 

you will 

Irene. Yes — I'll be yours — on one condition — 
Harold, (rushing to claim her) Name it — name 

it— and I'll 

Irene, (at r. of table — zvarding him off — point- 
ing and leaning toward him) Wait — give me — that 

^gg 

Harold, (recoilmg — pleading) W^hat ! Oh no — 
you don't mean that — you're just testing me — no — 
anything but that — Anything else in the world ■ 

Irene. ( unrelentingly — determ ined — leaning over 
table to him\ Harold, give me that ^gg 

Harold, (drazving back — in last, zveakening ap- 
peal) My duty — I haven't the right 

Irene, (passionate pleading) The right — ah, 
what is right and wrong to us — we love each other — 
we've the right to live our lives — for each other • 

Harold. You don't realize what you're asking — 
They know^ I left the store-house — If I don't re- 
turn soon, they'll search and discover the truth — 
then I'll be a fugitive from justice — a hunted man — 
dishonored and disgraced 

Irene, (alluringly) And am I not worth it? 
(puts herself alluringly in front of him — they gaze 
at each other — then he clasps her passionately in his 
arms — kisses her. She slozvly releases herself — her 
arm falling over him till it touches the egg-case — 
she is almost on her knees) Now let me see the 
tgg — (after a mental struggle, he undoes the case — 



14 " FOOD." 

first drawing his revolver and looking about care^ 
fully. She falls to knees, adoringly sways — about 
to swoon — he catches her — lifts her to her feet — she 
frees herself from his arms) Now — we must go — ■ 
quickly — but wait — you can't carry it in that case — • 
it would be recognized — Ha — my jewel box — ■ 
(crosses quickly over to the side board — takes jewel 
box to table — faces Harold, expectantly — he 
hesitates with egg-case in hands, remembering duty 
— she compels him zvith luring smile — he brings case 
and lays it on table — steps back — she takes egg out 
carefidly — gazes at it — about to put it in case — sees 
jewels fill it — f.ings them out — puts egg in — closes 
lid — Basil, enters quickly, r. 3c/ — Irene and 
Harold start and exclaim — she moves azvay from 
table — eyes on box — leaves box on table) Why, 
Basil — I thought you'd retired 

(Basil, without speaking, moves to table — seizes 
jezvel box — opens — seizes egg and holds it up, 
Irene shrieks— Harold draws pistol.) 

Basil. Shoot — and watch it fall 



(Harold's pistol drops to floor.) 

Irene, (timidly — zvonderingly) Basil — how did 
you know? 

Basil. The 'phone— you left the receiver off — I 
heard — everything-^ (Irene sinks into chair l. of 
table zvith moan. Basil crosses beside Harold — 
stands back of small rug) So she has brought you 
— to this — very well — you can go — but — you will 
leave the ecfs: — behind 



-t)& 



(Harold starts — cries out.) 

Irene, {springing to lier feet — in protest — Basil 
drazvs egg, protectingly to him) No — no — Basil — 



" FOOD." 15 

you won't do that — you can't be so cruel 

Basil, {lozvcring anji from above head — gazing at 
egg, in hollonj of hand) And this is the price of 
honor — {zvith an hysterical laugJi — his face changes 
to a fixed purpose) 

Irene, {horrified zvonder) What — what arc you 
going to do — Basil — Basil — Ah — ! (shrieks as 
Basil dashes the egg to the floor — on the little rug 
at his feet. She sinks to her knees over it. Harold 
staggers hack, pozverless from horror) 

Harold. Murderer — (crossing to Basil) 
Through all your life you'll see that horrible sight — 
That little egg lying there crushed and mangled, 
wasted — by your hand — Thank God I haven't got 
that to face 

(Basil turns up stage, overcome with what he has 
done. Harold turns as, if to go.) 

Irene. Harold where are you going? 

Harold, (turning at the door) To give myself 

up 

Irene. But it means death! 
Harold. Yes — Good-bye 

(Exits as if to Guillotine — Pause — door slams.) 

Irene, (reaching out to touch Basil) Basil- 



Basil. (recoiling from her zvith loathing) There 
can be nothing more between you and me 

Irene. You mean? 

Basil. You have betrayed me for an tgg — 
(crossing r. to table) 

Irene. Basil 

Basil, (points " Go." Irene turns, sees egg on 
rug, glances back to Basil, stealthily rolls the rug 
up and starts to escape with it) Irene! H^ave you 
no shame — You would take it — now ! 

Irene. Yes — it's all I've got left now — (he turns 



i6 '' FOOD." 

from her) They gave it to me when I was young — 
Basil — when I was young. 

(Basil points to the door, and she exits weeping. 
The door outside slams and he sinks on his 
knees by the table, shaken by silent sorrow. ) 



CURTAIN. 



LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 

HH 



007 871 362 8 • 




